17 October 2024 | Adelaide, SA

2024 Co-operative Housing Summit wrap up

The Value of Co-operative Housing

17 October 1024, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm ACDT, Gilbert Suite, Adelaide Convention Centre

Thank you to all who attended to discover the transformative potential of co-operative housing at the 2024 Co-operative Housing Summit. The 2024 Co-operative Housing Summit allowed delegates to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about creating sustainable, affordable, and inclusive communities. Whether you’re a housing professional, a co-op member, or curious about alternative housing models, this summit offered a unique opportunity to learn, share, and be inspired.

An incredible day of learning

A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible! From our platinum sponsor, KeyInvest, to the dedicated attendees — your support and participation created an unforgettable experience.

A special shout-out to Stephanie Miller of Common Equity Housing SA Ltd and her team for hosting.

Our keynote speakers truly set the stage for a day full of insights:

Tim Ross, Executive Director of Co-operative Housing Federation (CHF) of Canada, shared valuable lessons on the power of co-operative housing to build resilient communities in Canada.
Sidsel Grimstad, Senior lecturer and Teaching & Learning Lead, Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation, and Melina Morrison, CEO, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), launched the European Study Report and shared valuable lessons learned by the tour participants earlier this year.
Professor Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology, talked about the learnings she and her colleagues gained during the three-year project study on Australian Housing Co-operatives.
The workshops were full of practical takeaways for co-operative housing communities. Thank you to the presenters:
- Peter Sibly, CEO, United Housing Co-operative Ltd (UHC), Victoria
- Nasteha Mohamud, Chair, United Housing Co-operative Ltd (UHC), Victoria
- Molly Kendall, Communications and Business Development, The Co-op Federation
- Amy Lees, General Manager, Operations, Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL)
At the conclusion of the day Liz Thomas, CEO, CEHL, delivered the closing remarks and launched the Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance policy blueprint, which calls for a dedicated community housing funding stream to grow co-op housing to 10 per cent of Australia’s social housing stock.

Key takeaways from the day:

Co-operatives can lead change:
Together, Australia’s co-operatives have the power to address housing inequality. Advocacy at all levels of government is essential.

Collaboration is key:
Fostering partnerships is essential for growth, including between co-ops, members, government and the wider community.

Sustainability is the future:
Co-op housing must prioritise sustainability in design and governance to create lasting impact.

Thank you

A special shout-out to all the attendees, both in person and online! Your engagement, questions, and enthusiasm made the summit dynamic and insightful. 🙌

We’re excited to build on the conversations sparked at the summit and continue working together to strengthen the co-operative housing movement.